AMSTERDAM TO BRUGES ITINERARY ABOARD
THE BARGE FLUVIUS
Day 1 (Sat): Embarkation: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Vianen
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is
at 1 PM. At around 2 PM the MS Fluvius will leave Amsterdam
and will sail to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek,
where you will spend the night. Here the bicycles will be
distributed and you can enjoy a short bike ride (5-15 km/3-9 mi.).
Day 2 (Sun): Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk – Alblasserdam (Approx.
56 km/34 mi.) | Alblasserdam – Dordrecht
After breakfast you will cycle a beautiful route to Schoonhoven –
nicknamed Zilverstad (Silver City) – a city renowned for its
talented silver smiths since the 17th century. As you continue to
cycle along the Lek River you will pass through the Alblasserwaard
region to Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19
large windmills – one of which you can visit – which have a UNESCO
cultural heritage listing. Nearby Alblasserdam the barge will pick
you up to sail to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.
Day
3 (Mon): Dordrecht – Tholen | Tholen – Kreekrak lock (Approx.
34 km/20 mi.) | Kreekrak lock – Antwerp
During breakfast the MS Fluvius will sail to Tholen where you
will start your day’s cycling by visiting the “Wouwse Plantage”
forest. Other attractions on the day are the fortress town of Bergen
op Zoom and the impressive Kreekrak lock. After meeting
up with the MS Fluvius you will finish your day by sailing to the
port city of Antwerp which is situated on the river Schelde. Antwerp
is famous for handling up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and
has many attractions that include: the City Hall, one of several
majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the
historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral
and the medieval Steen Castle. After dinner visit the beautiful old
city center.
Day 4 (Tue): Antwerp – Temse – Dendermonde (Approx. 55 km/34 mi.)
Today’s tour will see you cycle out of Antwerp on a beautiful cycle
path along the picturesque tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, your
home for the night. There is only one way to describe the landscape
around the Schelde and that is “magnificent”. It is without doubt
one of the natural highlights of the tour.
Day 5 (Wed): Dendermonde – Ghent (Approx. 40-54 km/32-24 mi.)
This morning you will either start cycling from St. Amands or will
sail to Dendermonde where you will start cycling. From Dendermonde
you continue to follow the river Schelde in the direction of Ghent
where the MS Fluvius will moor for the night at a lock in
Lovendegem. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich
history. The city’s position at the junction of Leie and Schelde
Rivers has meant that it has been a major trading port since Roman
times. The city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more
than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. A major
attraction is St. Bavo Cathedral where a number of masterpieces of
medieval art including the world famous ‘Adoration of the Mystic
Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck are kept.
Day 6 (Thu): Ghent – Bruges (Approx. 45 km/28 mi.)
Today you will pedal from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish
countryside of western Flanders to Bruges, widely described as the
‘Venice of the North’. The city attracts more than two million
visitors every year who come for the ambience of the UNESCO World
Heritage-listed historic center. An outstanding example of a
medieval settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic
fabric as it has evolved over the centuries, with the result that
today the city’s original Gothic constructions form an integral part
of the town's identity. While you are here you can visit one of
Bruges' many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and
culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk
café.
Day 7 (Fri): Tour around Bruges to the North Sea (Approx. 50 km/30
mi.)
Your final day of cycling takes you along a quiet canal and past
beautiful poplar trees through an attractive polder landscape (a
polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments) dotted
with small farm houses to the North Sea coast. Here you will have
the opportunity to swim in the sea along an inviting 12 kilometre
sandy beach, visit any one of numerous cafés and see the attractive
dune landscape of “Het Zwin” (a unique nature reserve). On the
return ride to Bruges you will cycle along a small picturesque
canal.
Day 8 (Sat): Disembarkation: Bruges
Disembarkation after breakfast until 10 AM: End of your trip.
ITINERARY BRUGES
TO AMSTERDAM FLUVIUS
Day 1 (Sat): Embarkation: Bruges
The MS Fluvius awaits you in the Bruges harbour. Embarkation
and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from early
in the afternoon. You will have plenty of time to discover the
beautiful historical city of Bruges, aptly named the “Pearl of
Flanders”, during the afternoon and in the evening.
Day 2 (Sun): Bruges – Ghent (Approx. 56 km/34 mi.)
Your cycle tour starts today as the MS Fluvius sails out of
Bruges early in the morning. Following the distribution of bicycles after breakfast you will start pedaling towards Ghent
through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. On
arrival in Ghent enjoy the best of what this beautiful city has to
offer during an afternoon stroll. The town center of Ghent features
lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the
architectural richness in the historical center of the city has to
be seen to be believed (during the Middle Ages Ghent was the 2nd
largest European city after Paris). The MS Fluvius will dock
for the night at the Merelbeke lock, in a suburb of Ghent and
approx. 15 cycling minutes to the city center.
Day
3 (Mon): Ghent – Dendermonde (Approx. 40-53 km/24-32 mi.)
After breakfast in Ghent you will cycle downstream through a diverse
landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde which is
located at the junction of Dender and Schelde Rivers. The skipper
will discuss with guests the departure time of today’s tour which
may vary depending on whether it is high or low tide and the
subsequent speed of the barge. You will travel from Dendermonde to
St. Amands by either bike or barge depending on the tides. Your
floating hotel will be docked for the night in St. Amands.
Day 4 (Tue): Dendermonde – Antwerp (Approx. 59 km/35.4 mi.)
Today we will follow the Schelde River further downstream through
the Temse region and the small village of Baasrode to Antwerp. This
part of the route is along a most beautiful and twisting section of
the Schelde which over the centuries held strategic importance for
the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Antwerp, your destination
for the day, is a harbour city situated on the river Schelde famous
for handling up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and as the
birthplace of the famous painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens. There are
many highlights in the city to discover including: the City Hall,
one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance
period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.
Day 5 (Wed): Antwerp – Kreekrak locks | Kreekrak locks –
Tholen (Approx. 34 km/20 mi.) | Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht
The MS Fluvius will sail this morning along the Schelde-Rhine
Canal to the huge Kreekrak lock system. From here your bike tour to
Tholen, a former fishing village in the Dutch province of Zeeland
starts. You will cycle through the “Wouwse Plantage” and along the
fortress town of Bergen op Zoom. From Tholen you will cruise with
the ship through the impressive Volkerak lock system, along the
fortified town of Willemstad and then on to Dordrecht, one of the
oldest cities of the Netherlands and your destination for the day.
Day 6 (Thu): Dordrecht – Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam –
Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen (Approx. 55 km/33 mi.)
The barge will bring you to Alblasserdam . From here you will cycle
to Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 UNESCO
cultural heritage-listed windmills – one of which you can visit
(don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the
18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a
polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). You
will then continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small
fortified town on the river Lek where you will spend the evening.
Since the 17th century Schoonhoven – nicknamed Silver City – has
been renowned for its talented silversmiths.
Day 7 (Fri): Vianen – Breukelen | Breukelen – Amsterdam
(Approx. 46 km/28 mi.)
During breakfast the MS Fluvius will cruise to Breukelen
where you disembark and start your final day of cycling. Ride along
the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful mansions, small
castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. After
cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland
you arrive at Nigtevecht where you can visit a traditional cheese
farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on
to Amsterdam where you will meet the barge for the final time in the
Amsterdam harbour.
Day 8 (Sat): Disembarkation: Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast until 10 AM: End of your trip. If you
wish, you can explore Amsterdam or one of its numerous museums, do
some shopping or go on a canal tour (not included).
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